From Burnout to Supported: Why Entrepreneurs Don’t Have to Do It Alone with Kirsten Graham
The Story Engine Podcast
What if the reason your business feels overwhelming isn’t a lack of hustle—but a lack of support? In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with business coach and outsourcing expert Kirsten Graham to unpack why so many entrepreneurs burn out trying to do everything themselves—and how the right kind of support can completely transform both your business and your life. Kirsten shares her deeply personal journey from surviving the 2008 financial crash, closing her mortgage and title companies during one of the hardest seasons of her life, to rebuilding a business...
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How to Scale on Amazon Without Getting Crushed by Competition With Sean Stone
The Story Engine Podcast
Amazon is one of the largest—and most competitive—marketplaces in the world. For e-commerce brands, the opportunity is massive, but so are the risks. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with Sean Stone, an expert in helping brands scale and grow profitably on Amazon, to unpack what actually works in today’s crowded marketplace. Sean shares how brands can cut through the noise, avoid costly mistakes, and build systems that allow them to grow without burning margin or momentum. From positioning and strategy to understanding how Amazon really rewards sellers,...
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Mastering Corporate Storytelling: How to Get Your Ideas Heard with Namaan Mian
The Story Engine Podcast
In high-pressure corporate environments, great ideas often die—not because they're bad ideas, but because they’re poorly communicated. In this episode, communication expert Namaan Mian joins Kyle to unpack the art and science of storytelling inside organizations where decisions move slowly, egos run high, and clarity is rare. Namaan has mastered how to help leaders across levels—from emerging managers to senior executives—craft stories that move people, shape action, and cut through complexity. He reveals the subtle psychology behind influence, the mechanics of message design, and the...
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How to Navigate a Business Divorce with Clarity, Compassion, and Power — with Attorney Margeaux Thomas
The Story Engine Podcast
Most entrepreneurs prepare for growth, partnership, and success—but few prepare for what happens when a business partnership ends. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, attorney Margeaux Thomas pulls back the curtain on one of the most emotionally charged and financially high-stakes challenges a founder can face: the business divorce. Margeaux specializes in helping founders, partners, and executives untangle their companies, their identities, and their futures when a partnership breaks apart. She shares the unseen emotional toll, the common patterns she witnesses in conflict, and the...
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Designing What Humans Really Need: The Power of Psychoesthetics with Ravi Sawhney
The Story Engine Podcast
For over four decades, Ravi Sawhney has shaped the world through human-centered innovation—from the first touchscreen experiences at Xerox PARC to iconic products and services that have improved millions of lives. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Ravi shares the timeless principles behind his psychoesthetic methodology: a design philosophy rooted in emotion, memory, and how an experience makes us feel about ourselves. We explore why modern technology often feels synthetic, how great design creates meaning rather than aesthetics, and why the most successful products, services, and...
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How to Build Peace-of-Mind Into Your Business: The Story Behind Lodgering with Oscar Rubio
The Story Engine Podcast
What if the stress, chaos, and hidden workload of managing your property while living abroad could be replaced with clarity, control, and peace of mind? In this episode, I sit down with Oscar Rubio, founder and CEO of Lodgering, a SaaS platform designed to solve one of the most emotionally taxing problems in real estate and mobility: managing a home from thousands of miles away. Oscar shares the deeply personal journey that led him from overworked “one-man orchestra” to leading a scalable, global platform used by institutions, homeowners, and relocated professionals. We explore the messy...
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The Missing Role Every Entrepreneur Overlooks with Russell Lundstrom
The Story Engine Podcast
Most entrepreneurs dream of selling their business someday—but few understand what truly makes a company sellable… or why so many founders end up blindsided and disappointed when they finally sit down with buyers. In this episode, Russell “The Marketect” Lundstrom—serial entrepreneur, advisor to thousands of founders, and creator of the Marketect methodology—reveals why most businesses fail to get the exit they expect, what buyers actually value, and how to architect a business today that will command a higher multiple tomorrow. You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes story of the...
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Engineering Celebrity: How to Create & Leverage Fame with Clint Arthur
The Story Engine Podcast
What if “celebrity” wasn’t something you waited to be granted—but something you could engineer? In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with Clint Arthur, an artist and engineer in the craft of celebrity. Clint has built an entire methodology around creating, manufacturing, and leveraging celebrity so entrepreneurs can amplify their message, rise above the noise, and become the leading voice in their industry. We explore the psychology behind celebrity, why it remains one of the most powerful tools for authority and influence, and how everyday experts can use it to...
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The Transformation Behind Selling Transformation with Brook Bishop
The Story Engine Podcast
Selling high-ticket transformational services isn’t just a skill—it’s a personal evolution. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with Brook Bishop, an expert in high-ticket transformational sales. Together, we explore why selling deep, meaningful transformation requires you to embody that transformation yourself. Brook shares her philosophy on selling with confidence, integrity, and self-worth—and how the sales process becomes a mirror that reflects your own growth, visibility, and value. If you’ve ever struggled to charge what your work is worth, felt resistance...
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How to Build a More Profitable Business with Joe Abreu
The Story Engine Podcast
Everyone wants a more profitable business—but most entrepreneurs don’t actually know what creates profit, let alone how to consistently increase it. Growing revenue is one thing. Taking home more money is another. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with Joe Abreu, an expert in helping business owners identify where profit is leaking, where opportunity is hiding, and how to build a business that rewards you financially—not just operationally. Joe breaks down the hidden drivers of profitability, the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling, and the mindset...
info_outlineHigh-achieving women often face invisible roadblocks—patterns of thought, deep-seated beliefs, and subconscious habits that keep them from truly thriving. But what if you could move past those obstacles without years of rehashing the same painful memories in talk therapy?
In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with Alexus Rae Lopez, a master NLP practitioner who specializes in helping ambitious women break free from their own mental and emotional barriers. Alexus shares the common patterns she sees in high achievers, why these roadblocks appear in the first place, and how to dismantle them through powerful NLP techniques that create lasting change.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re the biggest thing standing in your own way, this conversation will help you understand why—and give you tools to finally step forward with confidence and clarity.
⏱ On This Episode
[01:14] – Why traditional talk therapy often keeps people stuck in the same cycles
[03:22] – The types of roadblocks high achievers face and how they show up in everyday life
[06:05] – How NLP works to reframe limiting beliefs at the subconscious level
[08:41] – Alexus shares a client story where a single shift created a breakthrough after years of frustration
[11:27] – The connection between unresolved emotional experiences and self-sabotage
[14:10] – Practical strategies for spotting and dismantling your own roadblocks
[17:36] – Why high achievers often attach their value to output—and how to break that pattern
[20:18] – Kyle and Alexus explore the importance of integrating change into your identity, not just your habits
[24:03] – Closing insights: stepping into possibility and freedom beyond your limitations